Food stories from the street

Lauro Convencido, Jr. was a former janitor in a film production agency when he started his humble kitchen on wheels with only P40 capital in 1984. 

His fresh and tasty grilled isaw (chicken intestines) has charmed customers then, until today, as his Mang Larry’s Isawan is a now a go-to joint for everything grilled. Success notwithstanding, Mang Larry still buys his own ingredients every morning to ensure the same taste and quality for which his stand is known.

Meanwhile, Marlene and Beejay Burog opened Khaleb Sharwarma in 2003 to help their mother. Starting out in an apartment compound in Quezon City, the business gained strong foothold after they opened their first store at SM City North Edsa. 

Today, Khaleb has expanded its menu to include Mediterranean specialties like pitazza, gyro pita, fish kebab, and yoghurt smoothie.

These two businesses, which started on the streets, are led by local entrepreneurs who wanted to make a better life for themselves and their families. 

Others, on the other hand, wanted to give Manileños a taste of their province’s specialties. 

After living in Australia, Joey Leonardo went home and realized that many of the popular restaurants rarely serve his beloved Bulakeño food. He then gathered heirloom recipes from family and friends and opened the first Bulacan Lugaw Kitchen at SM Hypermarket in SM Mall of Asia in 2017.  

With its signature dinuguan, chicharon topped goto, crispy pata, tokwa’t baboy, and more, Leonardo became a runner-up at Let’s Eat magazine’s New Restaurant of the Year in 2018.

As a true Ilocano, Larry Cortez primarily wanted to share his province’s delectable bagnet with those in the metro, as well as achieve “bagnet perfection.” So he traveled all over Ilocos and tried different bagnet recipes before he came up with his crispier, juicier, and tastier recipe in 2017, which diners can get at Super Bagnet.

With the goal to bring traditional street food to a wider market, Sgt. Sisig’s Carlo Macadangdang and Jonathan So focused on crispiness and flavor in re-creating the iconic Kapampangan sisig. 

Rica Penalosa of Ate Rica’s Bacsilog, on the other hand, started selling bacon silog with her unbeatable cheese sauce in 2006—and it was an instant hit with students. Today, her bacsilog is known as the ultimate student meal, and some of her student customers have become proud franchisers of Ate Rica’s Bacsilog.

Noticing how people flocked around a kariton selling hot goto, Gloria Marin opened Gloria’s Goto in 1981, serving her delicious goto with her signature rapport.

After street food lover Reymont Choachuy got sick after consuming a bad bunch of fish balls, he decided to serve good quality fish balls, squid balls, kikiam, and more when he opened Sam’s Everything on Sticks in 2005. His special sauce is a favorite among customers.

It is said that the foundation of any strong culinary heritage is street food. These stories are proof that every successful street food business is not simply a meat on a stick or a meal on a plate; every dish was shaped by human stories that in turn have helped build a better life and stronger communities. 

This year’s Street Food Festival by SM Hypermarket celebrates these stories while bringing the ultimate street food experience to the mall. 

Event-exclusive promos from Knorr, Maggi, Purefoods, Alaska, Bounty Fresh, CDO, Century, Del Monte, Farm Fresh, Mekeni, and Joy await guests. Customers can also look forward to “super sulit” bundled packs, amazing freebies, and huge discounts.

SM Hypermarket’s Street Food Festival 2019 will be at SM Center Pulilan on Sept 6-7, SM Center Muntinlupa on Sept 20-21, SM City Molino on Sept 27-28, and SM Mall of Asia for the Grand Finale on Oct 5-6.